Refine your sail trim, boat handling, and maneuvering skills while learning good crewmanship and teamwork.
120
ASA 120 Radar EndorsementSail safely through fog, darkness, and any visibility challenge the sea can throw at you.
ASA 120 Radar Endorsement is essential for any sailor navigating in low visibility conditions or unfamiliar waters. Radar is one of the most powerful tools for ensuring safe passage, but it requires skill and understanding to use effectively. This course will teach you how to make the most of your radar, from basic operation to advanced navigation techniques. By mastering radar, you’ll gain confidence in fog, at night, and in busy shipping lanes, making you a more capable and informed skipper. ASA 120 is an important step for anyone aiming to enhance their navigational skills and ensure safety on the water.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
ASA 120 Radar Endorsement provides a detailed introduction to the principles and practical uses of marine radar. You’ll learn how radar works, including the components, signal structure, and how to safely operate the system. The course covers interpreting radar screens, optimizing settings for different conditions, and using radar for navigation and collision avoidance. You’ll practice piloting using radar, tracking targets, anchoring, and navigating in challenging visibility. With hands-on experience in radar operation and interpretation, ASA 120 equips you to navigate safely and efficiently, even in the most demanding environments.
Prerequisites:
120 CERTIFICATION STANDARDS
It’s important to understand that simply enrolling in an ASA 120 course and attending classes doesn’t automatically guarantee certification. Our commitment is to the safety and competence of every sailor who takes to the water, which is why we’ve developed rigorous curriculum standards. These standards are designed to ensure you receive the highest quality education, equipping you with the skills and confidence you need to handle a boat safely. From sail trim to navigation, we hold you to a high standard, so when you earn your certification, you know you’re truly ready to skipper with skill and confidence. Safety isn’t just a lesson—it’s our priority, and these standards are what set you up for success on the water.
Download a PDF of the basic skills learned in this course. When you enroll in a certification course with a school, you will be taught each of these skills. Your ability to demonstrate these skills on the water and in the written exam determines whether you receive a certification or if you need more practice before receiving the certification.
To be successful in earning the certification, we highly recommend you study all available materials so that your time in class is used efficiently and effectively.
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WHAT'S NEXT
ASA 103
Coastal Cruising
Prepares sailors for more advanced and independent cruising aboard larger boats and navigating coastal water.
ASA 105
Coastal Navigation
Learn traditional navigation skills and methods to explore new cruising grounds and handle the ever-changing conditions of coastal waters.
